Fuse clamp



Sept. 22, 1936. c M I I 2,055,438

FUSE CLAMP Filed/NOV. 50, 1955 mama-\- FIQ'G Carl M. 61 2U2a/ Patented-Sept. 22, 1936 FUSE CLAMP Carl M. Gura, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor of onehalf to Ernest J. Elliott, Mentor, Ohio Application November 30, 1935, Serial No. 52,373

6 Claims.

This invention relates to fuse clamps and has for its main object to provide a fuse clamp which will force in unison each pair of the arms of the fuse clips holding the ends of the fuse into engagement therewith to provide, good contact between the clips at both ends of the fuse to prevent an arc at these points.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fuse clamp of the above character, which is simple in construction, is easily applied to both pairs of fuse clips, and in which both pairs of clamps are actuated by a single operating means.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter fullydescribed with reference to the accompanying drawing, and the novel features thereof will be distinctly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the several views of the drawing, similar parts are designated by the same reference characters, and although the clamp is illustrated for a ferrule type fuse, it will be understood that the invention is applicable for a knife-blade type fuse.

Figure 1 is a side view of an ordinary ferrule fuse with a clamp constructed in accordance with my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the clamp,

Fig. 4 is an end view of the clamp, the actuating n and locking bar being in its longitudinal position and the leaves in their up position,

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, through the adjusting bolt of the clamp or on line 55 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 illustrates the adjusting bolt fixed in the bar,

Fig. 7 is plan view of clamp with signal light,

Fig. 8 illustrates circuit from the light to hinged members, and Fig. 9 the spring pressed contact pin of the circuit.

Referring to the drawing, l represents a base of suitable insulating material, to which is fixed as at 2, two clips 3 and 4, each having a pair of spring arms 5 and 6 Which are adapted to grip the capped ends l and 8 of the ordinary fuse 9 for electric circuits. It has been found in practice that for various reasons, the pairs of spring arms 5 and 6 do not make full, complete and proper contact with one or both of the ends of the fuse, and consequently there is loss of electrical energy and other undesirable results. In order to cause the spring arms of the clips to make good contact with both ends of the fuse and thus assure eficiency and avoid the difiiculties resulting from poor contact between the clips and the fuse, this fuse clamp has been designed.

The fuse clamp consists of a par of plat-es or leaves I I and l l of fibre or other suitable insulating material, which leaves are pivotally connected 5 together at 2 and i3 by means of pairs of hinged members M and 95, which are fixed as at It to the lower sides of said leaves. The pivotally connected leaves ill and i l are of sufficient length so that the pairs of hinged members i l and 55 will 10 be directly over the clips 3 and wh the clamp is applied thereto. The hinged it and i5 have turned down or depending arms H and i8, which are adapted to fit over and engage the upper or free ends is and of the l5 arms 5 and S of the clamps 3 and t for forcing sameinto contact with the ends of the fuse.

For actuating the leaves Ill and ii downwardly in unison to cause the depending ii and is of the pairs of hinged members E i and E5 to exert gripping pressure upon the clips 3 and 4, and also lock said leaves in their final down positions, the following described mechanism is employed.

One of the leaves as H) is provided at its inner edge with a central lateral lug 2i and the other leaf II with a complemental recess 22 for accommodating same. On the pivotal line of the hinged members at l2 and E3 of the leaves 50 and H, the lug 2| is provided with a central opening 23 for receiving a bolt 24 depending from a strip of metal 25 embedded in a bar 26 of suitable insulating material adapted to actuate and lock the leaves it and H. The opening 23 of the leaf I0 is sufficiently large to permit up and down movement of said leaf, and a washer 2'3 is loosely mounted over the bolt 24 and slidably engages the under side of said leaf. An adjusting nut 28 on the bolt 24 is round-ed at 29 for engaging the edges of the opening of the washer 2i for providing a ball and socket movement, and said adjusting nut is knurled at 3% for convenient manipulation. By rotating the bar 26 to an angular position, it slidably engages the upper surfaces of the leaves it and I I, thereby forcing same 45 downwardly and then also locking them in a set position. When the bar 26 is in its longitudinal position relative to the pivotal center of the leaves It and H, said leaves may be tilted upwardly from said pivotal center and the depending arms 50 of the hinged members thereby spread apart for fitting over the ends of the arms of the spring clips. After applying the arms of the hinged members to the spring clips, the turning of the bar 26 on its pivotal bolt will cause it to slidably 55 spring pressed contact pins 34 and 35, which are adapted to enter shallow depressions indicated by 36 of the leaves 1B and H. From the depressions 36 'extend wires as at 3? leading to the hinged members at 12 and l3. In'event a fuse blows, the circuit is closed by the current passing from one clip to the other by way of the hinged members at 12 and lit the wires 3l, the

contact pins 34 and 35, the wires 32 and 33 and neon light 3|, thereby showing a signal.

From the drawing and description, it is thought that the construction and operation and advantages of this double clamp for fuses will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, and it will be understood that changes in the details of construction may be made for carrying out the invention and'within the claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a fuse clamp, the combination of a pair of hinged members, the hinged members having arms adapted to engage the arms of spring clips, the hinged members being normally tilted upwardly from and above the pivot point, and means for actuating the hinged members downwardly to cause said arms thereof to force the arms of the spring clips in contact with a fuse.

2. In a fuse clamp, the combination of a pair of hinged members, the hinged members having arms adapted to engage the arms of spring clips,

3. In a fuse clamp, the combination of a pair I of leaves, hinged members, the leaves being fixed to said hinged members, the hinged members having arms adapted to engage the arms of spring clips, the leaves being normally tilted upwardly, and means adapted to actuate said leaves downwardly to cause said arms of said hinged members to force the arms of pairs of spring clips in contact with a fuse.

4. In a fuse clamp, the combination of a pair of leaves, hinged members, the hinged members being fixed to said leaves, the hinged members having arms adapted to engage the arms of spring clips, the leaves being normally tilted upwardly, a bar, the bar being pivotally supported by one leaf, and the bar being adapted to slidably engage said leaves when rotated to actuate same downwardly to cause said arms of said hinged members to force the arms of both pairs of clips in contact with the'ends of the fuse.

5. In a fuse clamp, the combination of a pair of leaves, hinged members, the hinged members being fixed to said leaves, the hinged members having arms adapted to engage the arms of spring clips, the leaves being normally tilted upwardly, a bar, the bar being pivotally supported by one of said leaves, the bar being adapted to slidably engage said leaves upon rotation of the bar to actuate said leaves downwardly to cause said arms of said hinged members to force the arms of pairs of clips in contact with the fuse, and means for adjusting the position of said bar relative to said leaves.

6. In a fuse clamp, the combination of a pair of leaves, hinged members, the hinged members connecting said leaves, the hinged members having arms adapted to engage the arms of spring clips, the leaves being normally tilted upwardly, a bar, a pivot bolt, the bolt being supported by one of said leaves, the bar being on said bolt, the bar being adapted to slidably engage said leaves upon rotation to force same downwardly to cause the arms of said hinged members to force the arms of the spring clips to grip said fuse, and a nut upon said bolt adapted to adjust said bar relative to said leaves.

CARL M. GURA. 

